— To define unique here would be redundant or unnecessary. There are definitions in dictionaries, but for the most part, a lot of people have their personal definitions of uniqueness. For some people, unique means something one of a kind or distinct from everything else. It refers to something singular and not like anything else that exists or has existed. Unique can be used to emphasize the rarity, unusualness, or individuality of an object, person, or concept. So, that is the proposition that Amy brought up in the latest Lens Artists’ challenge: Unique. For this post, I have chosen to focus on one of many unique places around the world. First, though, a little background.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) was created on November 16, 1945. It was founded with the goal of promoting peace, sustainable development, intercultural dialogue, and the free flow of information and knowledge. With that vision, UNESCO started designating World Heritage Sites. As of now, there are 1,154 UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world. These sites are recognized for their exceptional cultural, natural, or mixed value and are deemed important for the collective heritage of humanity. They include landmarks such as historical sites, architectural wonders, natural wonders, and cultural landscapes.
The criteria to designate a site as a World Heritage Site include six key elements:
- Outstanding universal value for all humanity;
- Integrity to retain its original state;
- Authenticity to represent its historical and cultural values;
- Importance to display unique cultural, historical, aesthetic, scientific, or ecological significance;
- Management and preservation of the site;
- Comparative analysis how it relates to similar places globally or regionally.
In our trips through the years, we have visited over forty of those UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Several of them have been featured on this blog, and today I will focus on the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy.
As the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi (in the Umbria region in central Italy), the basilica is named for Saint Francis. He was born and died in Assisi. The basilica has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. According to its official site, it was chosen World Heritage for its unique and “rare example of historical continuity between the city, its cultural landscape and the local infrastructure as a whole.” Also, that site stresses the important fact that “since the Middle Ages, it has been closely associated with the Franciscan movement, which promotes an important message of peace and tolerance throughout the world.”
If you enter the Basilica through the Lower Church, you will notice the Romanesque architectural style on its side entrance. You can see the large rose window above the doors flanked by two smaller rose windows. That large rose window is called “the eye of the most beautiful church in the world” by scholar Gualtiero Belluci.
After Saint Francis was canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1228, the Basilica construction began. Built on a hillside, the Basilica has two churches (known as the Upper Church and the Lower Church) and a crypt. The church was designed by Maestro Jacopo Tedesco.
When you visit the Basilica, you can visit the crypt with Saint Francis’ tomb as well as see important Italian art by Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini, and Pietro Lorenzetti.
The Basilica is set against the unique Umbrian countryside.
Visiting Assisi, when we traveled in Italy, was a major highlight of our trip. We had been scheduled to return there for Easter 2020, but the entire world was in quarantine at that time We have plans to return soon. As mentioned previously, this site has several other UNESCO World Heritage Sites featured, including places in Brazil, Portugal, USA, and Peru.
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boromax
Wow. Your photos and narration sure make me want to visit there in person. Fantastico!
Egídio Leitão
Ed, your words warm my heart. We love that place. It’s so rich in history and beauty. You might want to check out the post I have with the Rocca Maggiore, also in Assisi. Thank you for your feedback.
SoyBend
What gorgeous architecture, Egidio. I especially liked the Nave of the Upper Basilica.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you so much, Siobhan. I appreciate your feedback. I wish I could have taken more photos inside the church, but they were not allowed. I had to put the camera on a bench and discreetly make that photo.
SoyBend
Sneaky! 🙂
Anne Sandler
What a unique and beautiful church Egidio. Your photography of the building is fantastic, especially the Upper Basilica.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you, Anne. Of course, I had to sneak that photo since they did not allow photographing inside the Basilica.
Amy
Thank you for the fabulous tour through your beautiful images, the views, courtyard, the garden… The Umbria countryside is unique! What a stunning photo, it make me want to visit Italy again. 🙂
Egídio Leitão
The same for me, Amy. I want to go back. Thanks for your feedback.
JohnRH
Great tour Egidio. There’s no place quite like it!
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, John. That place is magical.
Tina Schell
A beautiful choice for the week Egídio. Having spent 16 years in Catholic school, of course St. Francis was a large feature in my education. I always pictured him as a kind, gentle soul who loved all creatures including the sinners among us! The basilica is glorious, as it should be, but I’m guessing he’d be a bit sheepish about being its famous resident!!
Egídio Leitão
Tina, it makes me wonder the same. The place he was born was very close to our hotel (everything is close by in Assisi). It was very rustic and more like what we’d associate with him. We have an image of St. Francis in our backyard. It’s wonderful to see cardinals resting on the statue from time to time. Thanks for your comments.
Tina Schell
Now that is a lovely thought Egídio. I shall picture it with a smilr
Tra Italia e Finlandia
Bellissima descrizione e foto meravigliose. 👏
Egídio Leitão
Grazie mille.
margaret21
This is somewhere I’ve always had on my ‘must visit’ list and never achieved. This post is both a great alternative, and a further incentive to get myself there.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, Margaret. We were supposed to go back in 2020, but COVID made us change our plans.
margaret21
Covid has a great deal to answer for.
I. J. Khanewala
That’s certainly a lovely place. We haven’t visited it, but it’s on our list. Your photos nudged it up 🙂
Egídio Leitão
I hope you make it there. We are going back soon. Thanks for your feedback.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Absolutely unique place, beautiful details and views in this post
Egídio Leitão
Many thanks, Ritva.
Tish Farrell
Your photos are breath-taking, Edigio.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you so much, Tish.
Wind Kisses
Breath-taking photos and great information about World Heritage Sites. St. Francis was ever present in our garden growing up. The name alone brings comforting peace. Clearly a place on my radar. Thanks for bringing this special place to light, Egidio.
Egídio Leitão
Donna, thank you for your touching feedback. We have a St. Francis image in our backyard. I love it when I see cardinals resting on his shoulder or head. We hope to be back in Assisi soon.
Wind Kisses
I think we just put in on our list when we return in May. I would love it.
Perpetua
My favourite place to visit in Italy. I followed his footsteps by doing several pilgrimages. Did you visit his Porziuncola?
Egídio Leitão
Perpetua, we have been to Porziuncola. We were supposed to return to Assisi in 2020, but COVID canceled everything. We hope to go back soon. That sounds like a wonderful place we’d like to see.
Shelley@QuaintRevival.com
Wow, I can see why you’d want to go back there again. A true litany of options available to see, photograph, and rejoice in seem endless there. Thank you for sharing with us perfect choices for the prompt.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you, Shelley, for your kind words and feedback.
Shelley@QuaintRevival.com
You’re welcome!
jazzibee
Marvellous Photos! They show up the place so well.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, James. I appreciate your feedback.
Egídio Leitão
James, thank you so much for your feedback.
Leya
Egídio, thank you for again amazingly beautiful photography and a unique place. I was there once when I was young, but would love to return one day. Your Umbrian landscape makes this place even more wonderful. Truly unique.
Egídio Leitão
Ann-Christine, thank you for your kind words and feedback.
aekshots
Amazing photos of a unique and amazing place…wow! Well captured Egidio 🙂
Egídio Leitão
Many thanks, Andy.